The Baptist General Convention of Texas ended 2010 nearly 13 percent below budget requirements and 7.65 percent behind the previous year’s receipts, the BGCT treasurer’s office reported.
Texas Baptists gave $32,644,317 to the BGCT Cooperative Program, 87.37 percent of the $37,365,000 budget. In 2009, churches gave $35,347,969.
“While we’re disappointed with Cooperative Program receipts this year, we feel that the reduction from 2009 is due in large measure to the economy and high unemployment,” BCCT Treasurer Jill Larsen said. “We hear anecdotally from some of our churches that they are suffering from the recession still.”
However, she noted optimistic signs in terms of giving in November and December. Larsen characterized Cooperative Program forecasts for 2011 as “fairly conservative.”
While the detailed budget calls for $35,850,000 in 2011, she pointed out that includes $1 million from reserves and $2 million in projected revenue from special fund-raising initiatives.
“That means the actual 2011 Cooperative Program budget (from church receipts) is $32,850,000—only $200,000 more than we received in 2010,” Larsen said.
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